A CAMBERLEY-BASED businesswoman who set up an enterprise to help women fund their own business ventures has scooped a top industry award.

Sally Goodsell won the Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Enterprise Development Award at the Prowess Business Awards 2008, beating off competition from more than 300 other entrants.

For almost 30 years, Ms Goodsell has been involved in funding small businesses and she has spent the past six years as the chief executive of Finance South East.

She was described in a recent government White Paper as a leader in the field of women’s enterprise.

Ms Goodsell said: “I am thrilled to receive this award from Prowess and would like to thank the judges for their interest and endorsement of the work I have been doing.

“Finding finance to run a business is never easy, and through our programmes we have supported and encouraged many female entrepreneurs to realise their ambitions and get the funding they need to prosper and grow.”

The Prowess awards, now in their fourth year, honour those who have contributed to the growth of women’s business enterprise throughout the UK.